Unnamed witches: a murdered witch. (Catalogue ref: SP 16/11 f. 5)
This source contains an example of the extreme violence that could be committed against people who were accused of witchcraft, 2 December, 1625.
Transcript
- The man I told you of his name was
- Pemberton: an active man in several professions, but a papist and
- hath been a teacher over of recusant’s children.[Recusant was English Catholic who refused to attend services of the Church of England]
- This man, as the general report is, was
- cast out of their Synagogue. Where upon he grew melancholy
- seeking by all means to be reconciled again to his former state.
- And as it is conveyed (for no man can prove their secret
- passages) had conference with a priest, who after many
- delays should tell him that there was no means for his
- reconcilement [forgiveness] but to procure [get hold of] the heart of a heretic.
- Whereupon (as it seems) he gave out in speeches that he
- would kill this woman for (says he) she is a witch.
- After a while being at work near the place, he was willed
- to come to supper, which quoth [said] he: “But I will kill the witch
- first, whereof the messenger laughed as at a jest.”
- So he went to the house to come in, the doors were shut (for they
- were jealous [mindful] of his words) he bade open the door, they would not, for
- it was tight. Then he took up a mighty stone and at
- serious assault broke it down. The women came out
- backward to a neighbour’s house. But he fell first upon the
- men & with a whittle like a butcher’s knife gave him fifty wounds.
- Then he followed the women, but a maid resisting him got five
- great wounds and he would have killed her, unless she told him
- where the witch was. Whereof she told him under the bed.
- He came into the chamber door, pulled her out, cut her throat
- so wide it lay upon her bosom. Ripped down her breast
- but could not get his hand in for the bone. Then he ripped
- her up the belly, thrust in his arm & caught a piece of her
- [?] with his knife in one hand and liver in the other. Bragging
- openly he had killed the witch, there was her heart. And
- now he cared not what became of him.